A D-optimal Multi-position Calibration Method for Dynamically Tuned Gyroscopes

Abstract This paper presents a novel experimental design to greatly improve the calibration accuracy of the acceleration-insensitive bias and the acceleration-sensitive bias of the dynamically tuned gyroscopes (DTGs). In order to reduce experimental cost, the D-optimal criteria with constraints are constructed. The turntable positions and the number of test points are chosen to build D-optimal experimental designs. The D-optimal experimental designs are tested by multi-position calibration experiment for tactical-grade DTGs. Test results show that, with the same cost, the fit uncertainty is reduced by about 50% by using the D-optimal 8-position experimental procedure, compared to using a defacto standard experimental procedure in ANSI/IEEE Std 813–1988. Furthermore, the new experimental procedure almost achieves optimal accuracy with only 12-position which is half the cost of the widely adopted 24-position experimental procedure for achieving optimal accuracy.